2. A note on the context of the word
'gods:' the gods of the forest range from sentient animals to
the uncanny shishigami (translated as Deer God or Forest
Spirit), who seems to rule over life and death itself. They are
examples of kami, the ancient traditional gods of the
Japanese who are linked to or embody the forces of nature.
Napier, Susan J. Anime from Akira to Princess Mononoke.
New York: Palgrave, 2001, p. 177.

3. All quotes from the dialogue are taken
from the English subtitles of the U.S. DVD release. Princess
Mononoke (Mononoke Hime). Dir. Hayao Miyazaki. 1999 (orig.
Japanese release 1997). DVD. Miramax, 2000.

4. San shares Ashitaka's liminal status in
that she is a human being who has been adopted by the forest and
who considers herself to be a wolf. Her denial of her human
origins for the majority of the film, however, prevents her from
playing a peacemaking role until the stakes involved have grown
truly apocalyptic.